Signal device.



L.:S.HOWARD.

SIGNAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24.1911.

Patented Mar. 19.1918.`

2 sHEErJs-suizr 2.

LewisfcHoward,

q aftoluLc LEWISS. HOWARD, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.SIGNAL :envien Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. '19, i918.

Application mea March 24, 1917. serial No. 157,282.

To all whom t ma concern.'

Be it known t at I, LEWIS S. HOWARD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State line 4 4 of. Fig. 2;

' thereto;

of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in SignalDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal devices and to one which 'is especiallyadapted for use" on automobiles to enable the driver to indicatemovements which he purposes to give to the vehicle. It comprisesessentially a simultaneously actuated signal carrier and sired signal.-s One preferred embodiment. of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings 'of which-w Figurel is a front elevation of thedevice with an automobile number plate attached Fig. 2 isa view of ahorizon-talsection tekenen the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. '3 is a view of ayertical longitudinal section; I

Fig. 4 shows a cross section taken on the Fig. 5 is a cross sectiontaken on the line 5-'5 of Fig'. 2;

FigfG is a diagram of the circuit c0nnec tions to the. severalelectromagnets; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the drum showingthe signals in theirpreferred position.

The device comprises a supporting plate '1 provided with' suitable boltholesso that it can be attached to the automobile' and having hingedthereto a casing2. This cas ing is provided .with a lightopening or windoW 3 through Whicl1 the signals may be view'ed and the .customaryredcolored Win" l dow 4; the casing is heldin lace against the su ortinplateby asuita le fastening or locliIlJig deice 5. The lower-'part ofthe lplate 1 is provided with slots@ for the re` ception of boltscarrying the number plate 7. The lower part of the casing has a narrowWindow' S-so that'light from the` lamp 9 may illuminate the number plateat; night.

0n a shaft 10, pivoted. in the casing therel is mounted asignal-carryindrum 1l the cylindrical portion of 'whic is made of glass, celluloid, orother, suitable transparent material.'

insertion of the lamp 9 l,the cutaway portion.' IThe signals right, stopand left 4are alixed to the drum 1l' in the order;

The) cylindrical portion at' ,one end is cut away c1112, to vpermitofthe 14 and l5, the latter being keyed t0 the shaft. @ne end 16' oit'the drum has an arm 17 which carries an arcuate solenoid plunger 18, theends 19 and'20 of which are in operative relation with the solenoids 21and 22;- respectively. The plunger 18 'carries projections 23 suitablyspaced thereon so as to limit the4 movement of the plunger when it isattracted by a Solenoid.

A shutter 24: normally extending across the light opening 3 is carriedby sectors 25 and 2G which are mounted on-the shaft 10. The sector 26-has an extension carrying a balancing weight 27. The inner side of thesector 25 has anar-m 28 which carries-an armature in the form of asolenoid plunger 29 which is in operative relation with anelectro-magnet such as the solenoid shutter in its normal non-signalingcondi named. When the deviceisA in its non-signaling position the Wordstop faces the opening 3 but is hidden from View by'Y the shutter 24,

The 'circuits are arranged as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6, thebattery 32 and.

the electromagnets 21, 22, and 30,-fbeing` shown connected to ground.'Closingof switch 85,-which is preferably operated by a movement of thebrake' pedal, makes the circuit. through the shutterA solenoid 30.

Closing the switch 33 permits current to pass fromxwire 36 to wires 37and -38leading to the left and shutter magnets, respecf"v tively, whileclosing the svg/ itch 34 permits current fromv the Wire -39 tol passthrough wires, Ll0 and-41 vto the right' axfdshutter.V

magnets, respectively.

The device operates as follows: When the 'stop signal is to beshown a.'movement of the brake pedal or other suitable movement to close theswitch 35 will the closing of the switch 33 Will cause thesolenoid Q1 toturn the drum l] so that the signa-l left is in front of the opening 3,While thegsolenoid 30 turns the shutter away from the opening.

Although I have described above one specific embodiment of my inventionl Wish it 'Loipe understood that various changes in details may be madeWithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim z- I. signal device comprising a casing having a4 light openingfor viewing a signal,

a signal carrier opposite said opening and pivoted in the casing andcarrying a, plurality of signals, a shutter norinallyextend ing acrosssaid' opening and pivotedin the casv1 g, means for turning said shutteralone to disclose a signal, and means for turnn ingtioth said shutterand said signal can rier to disclose another signal.

2. A signal device comprising a casing having a light opening forviewing a signal, a signal carrier opposite said opening and pivoted in,the casing and carrying a 'plurality of signals, a shutter normally eX-tending across said opening and pivoted in the casing, means for turningsaid shutter alor-e to disclose a signal, and means for turning saidsignal carrier eoperatively with the turning of Said shutter to discloseany one of a plurality of other signals. 4

3. A signal device comprising a casing having a light opening forviewing a signal, a source of light in said casing, a drum opposite saidopening and pivoted in the casing and carrying a plurality of signals, ashutter normally extending across said opening and pivoted inV thecasing and carrying an armature in operative relation with anelectromagnet, an arcuate solenoid substantially concentric with saiddrum, an arcuate sole noid plunger in operative relation tvith saidsolenoid and fixed to said drum, means for energizing saidelectroniagnet to turn said shutter alone to disclose a signal, andmeans for energizing said electromagnet and said solenoid at the sainetime to simultaneously turn said shutter and said drum to discloseanother signal.

4. A signal device comprising a casing having a light opening forviewinga signal, a drinn opposite said opening and pivoted in the casingand carrying a plurality of signals, a shutter norn'ially extendingacross said opening and pivoted in the casing and carrying an armaturein operative relation -ivith an elcctioinagnety arcuate solenoidssubstantially concentric with said drinn, arcuate solenoid ]:ilnngersrespectively in operative relation with said solenoids and xed to saiddrum, means for energizing said electroniagiietto turn said shutteronly, means for energizing said electromagnet and for energizingselectively any one of said solenoids to simultaneously turn saidshutter 'and said drinn, and means for bringing said device haelt to itsnoiisignaling condition when said magnets are deiiergized.

A signal device comprising a casing having a. light opening for viewinga signal, a drum opposite said opening and pivoted in the casing andcarrying a plurality of signals, a' shutter normally extending acrosssaid opening and pivotcd in the casing and carrying an armature inoperative relation with an electromagnet, two arcuate solenoidssubstantially concentricwith said drinn, a drum-attached arcuatesolenoid p lmager one end of which is in operative relation with one ofsaid solenoids and the other end of which is in operative relation withthe other of id solcnoids, ineans for energizing said electromagnet toturn said shutter only and disclose a signal, and means for selectivelyenergizing either one said solenoids col'ieratively with the energizingof said electromagnet to turn both said shutter and said drinn andtlicrcby disclose either one of two other signals.

In testimony whereof I alli); my signature.

- LEVVS Si HOWARD.

